The Union of Veterans’ Affairs Employees is looking on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to interchange Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay.
Following a gathering of native presidents and union executives over the weekend, the union despatched a letter to Trudeau saying it had misplaced confidence in MacAulay.
“I’m really disheartened by the dearth of curiosity by the minister to return and listen to the considerations of his workers,” mentioned union president Virginia Vaillancourt.
The union says MacAulay has ignored its considerations relating to the contracting out of labor performed by case managers.
The authorities has supplied a contract to Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Services (PCVRS) that may see the corporate doing work performed by Veterans Affairs case managers, Vaillancourt mentioned.
The union has written to MacAulay thrice since June to request a gathering to debate the difficulty, she mentioned, and the primary two messages weren’t even acknowledged. In response to the third message the union was referred to departmental officers, she mentioned.
Case managers are fearful that contracting out will erode belief, Vaillancourt mentioned.
“Contracting out isn’t the reply to serving veterans,” she mentioned.
“Veterans fought for this nation, and it must be the face of the federal government that’s the ones who’re serving these veterans.”
The union’s considerations with the Liberals return to 2015. In that yr, when the Liberals got here to energy, Vaillancourt mentioned the federal government promised a 25:1 caseload for case managers. Some managers are presently seeing 40 or as many as 60 purchasers, she mentioned.
Last week, MacAulay introduced $43 million in funding to increase over 50 case managers, 25 veteran service brokers, and different help workers for a further three years.
MacAulay’s workplace responds
In a press release to CBC information, MacAulay’s workplace mentioned case administration companies and sources will proceed as a necessary service delivered by VAC case managers. The new service model with PCVRS will cut back administrative duties for case managers, assist steadiness caseloads and create extra time with veterans and their households.
“VAC consulted case managers early within the contract renewal course of. Their ideas, considerations and views have helped form how the companies shall be delivered. The union recognized a number of VAC workers to take part in varied working teams, most of whom are case managers,” the assertion mentioned.
“From the start, VAC has had clear and common communication with workers. Case managers have been and can proceed to be engaged in all phases of the contract rollout as components are put in place.”